Croup: Treatment, Procedure, Cost and Side Effects

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Croup is a type of infection that infects the larynx, bronchial tubes and the trachea. This form of infection occurs due to many viruses and rarely due to some bacteria. This is a contagious disease and you often notice heavy coughing and deep sounds while inhaling. It is known that this disease mostly affects children between 6 months and 3 years of age and this disease is also known to be seasonal as it occurs mostly during winters. Croup can be spread via airborne infected substances and it can be also spread when an infected person coughs over someone. If you are diagnosed with this disease then you might notice gradual swelling of your vocal chords and you also notice difficulty in breathing and swallowing food. You might also notice distinct heavy sounds from your vocal chords while inhaling or coughing. Irrespective of the type of croup, you will always face difficulty in breathing and often face some retractions such as your skin might be tightened around the ribs and immediate medical help is needed as the condition might worsen gradually if left untreated.

The treatment procedure of this disease depends on the type of infection (infection by a virus or bacteria). Then your medical expert might obtain certain X Rays of the affected areas to check the severity of the swelling. As the infected person faces trouble breathing therefore a pulse oximeter is used to determine the oxygen levels in the body and then necessary steps are taken so that you receive adequate oxygen in your body. Antibiotics and certain cough syrups are advised to ease the problems of the symptoms that you are facing. Certain steroid therapies are used to cure this infection and these may be applied by injection or by oral methods. These steroids help to fight the antibodies that are present in your body and kill the bacteria and viruses that are present. The doctor will prevent the patient from getting dehydrated and will recommend that you intake as much as fluids possible.

If you face problem in breathing and the skin around the ribs are tightened along with deep coughs then seek medical help as you might be eligible for this kind of treatment. You might also notice involuntary deep sounds while breathing. You might start drooling and have difficulty in swallowing as the inflammations causes pain, you might also seem to be fatigued and you will breathe at a faster rate than usual (palpitations). You should also see a doctor when you notice that your skin develops a grayish and blue color usually in the mouth and the fingernail area.

Sometimes croup might be confused with an ordinary condition of whooping cough. You should get tested and if you are diagnosed with whooping cough instead then you are not eligible for this kind of treatment. Other forms of cough often cause you to have stiffness and pain in your chest that might indicate some other condition but it necessarily does not mean that you are suffering from croup.

The cough syrups, steroids and antibiotics might cause a feeling of nausea and weakness. You might also face loss in appetite. The pain in your abdomen and chest might persist with the coughing and due to the prescribed medications such as cough syrup, they can cause you to feel drowsy from time to time.

You should have the children wash their hands frequently to reduce the chances of spreading the infection. You should also consume a lot of fluids and keep yourself hydrated at all times. Try to avoid exposure to irritants such as smoke and polluted areas as you are now prone to respiratory diseases.

With proper treatment and care you can recover from this disease within 5 to 8 days. In severe cases of this condition the recovery time might take up to 15 days as the medications take time to cure the condition. Children with low immune system will face difficulty in recovering.

Since the course of treatment for this disease requires only medications the steroids and the other medications range from Rs. 500 to Rs. 2,500.

With proper care and treatment the results of the treatment are known to be permanent. However you should be cautious and avoid polluted areas and wash your hands frequently. You should recover within 5 to 8 days.